The City has prepared this informational presentation for residents to help them understand the details surrounding the upcoming Aerial Spray Program.

What the Insect Looks Like

As larva they are caterpillars that quickly mature to develop five pairs of blue dots followed by six pairs of red dots along their back. In addition, they are darkly-coloured and covered with tufts of hairs. This is the damaging stage of the life cycle for this pest as larva have insatiable appetites for tree leaves.

As adults they are moths. The females are larger than the males and have white to cream coloured wings. Males are smaller than their female counterparts and are dark-brown in colour with feathery antennae. Adult moths do not feed on tree leaves. The males quickly die off after they have mated and the females have laid their eggs.

What You Can Do

Wrap and secure a piece of burlap cloth with twine/rope around the stem(s) of your trees.

Drape the burlap cloth over the twine/rope so there is an overhang where the caterpillars can crawl underneath to seek shelter during the day.

Lift the burlap cloth overhang every afternoon and collect any hiding caterpillars and destroy them.

Attract birds and other creatures that eat these insects by planting attractive flowers, herbs or shrubs in your garden.

For severe infestations, apply Bacillus thurigiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), at the early stage of caterpillar development – visit your garden centre for details and ask for Btk availability.

The objective of the EGM management program is to control outbreak levels of EGM in areas with trees that are under the risk of defoliation. Eradication of EGM is no longer a possibility as it is well established throughout North America is not a realistic management objective.

Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray e-Update

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